Subject:
Title
First Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement with the Public Defender for the Jail Diversion Recovery program and Interlocal Agreement with the Public Defender for a Youth Therapist at Ready for Life, Inc.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the First Amendment to the Jail Diversion Recovery Program (Jail Diversion) Interlocal Agreement and a new Interlocal Agreement for a Youth Therapist to assist youth transitioning out of foster care.
● Agreements will fund Jail Diversion and a therapist to assist youth transitioning out of foster care to prevent involvement in the criminal justice system.
● Jail Diversion provides supportive services to individuals involved in the criminal justice system that have mental-health and substance use diagnoses. The therapist will work with youth to find housing, employment, and obtain vital life skills to achieve independence.
● Funding in an amount not to exceed $110,000.00 has been identified in the Public Defender’s General Fund appropriation in the Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) budget ($35,000 for additional Jail Diversion Program Services and $75,000 for a Youth Therapist).
Body
Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community
2.2 Be a facilitator, convener, and purchaser of services for those in need
2.4 Support programs that seek to prevent and remedy the causes of homelessness and move individuals and families from homelessness to permanent housing
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach
Summary:
The First Amendment to the Interlocal provides funding for additional Jail Diversion Program Services and the new Interlocal funds a therapist to work with youth transitioning out of foster care at Ready For Life, Inc. Jail Diversion provides supportive services to individuals involved in the criminal justice system with mental-health and/or substance use diagnoses. The therapist will work with youth to find housing, employment, and obtain vital life skills to successfully achieve independence.
Background/Explanation:
The First Amendment to the Jail Diversion Interlocal and the Interlocal for a Foster Care Youth Therapist were part of the decision packages approved by the Board of County Commissioners (Board) contingent on the outcome of the property tax amendments.
Jail Diversion funding will assist the Public Defender with additional program needs. Due to the opioid epidemic, the Courts have ordered increased lengths of stay for clients enrolled in Jail Diversion. The Public Defender has had 6,634 clients in the Jail Diversion program and has added 320 clients from October 2017 - April 2018.
The therapist will work with youth at Ready For Life, Inc., a non-profit that assists children aging out of foster care. Approximately 300 youth are eligible for this program and the therapist will see 15 youths per week.
Fiscal Impact:
Additional funding in an amount not to exceed $110,000.00 has been identified in the Public Defender’s General Fund appropriation in the Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) budget. The additional funding is allocated as follows:
• Jail Diversion First Amendment: an additional $35,000.00 bringing the total annual not to exceed amount to $841,560.00
• Youth Therapist Interlocal: $75,000.00
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this First Amendment and Interlocal Agreement is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Daisy Rodriguez, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Public Defender
Ready For Life, Inc.
Attachments:
First Amendment
First Amendment Exhibit 1
Youth Therapist Interlocal
Youth Therapist Interlocal Exhibit 1